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While it was not the intention of its father, President Obama's health care plan seems to be the prescription needed to bring Americans together at a critical time in our country.
As you know, this past Friday, Congress passed a continuing resolution (CR ) 230-189 that funds the federal government until December 15, but defunds Obamacare.
Wisely, the CR also contains the "Full Faith and Credit Act" which prevents a default if Congress breaches the debt ceiling.
Some of the President's most ardent supporters----far left secular progressives, unions, etc., are finding it very difficult to support his health care plan because as the lights are turned on, it is becoming clear that it will "transform" America by destroying the world's best health care, and it will financially ruin millions of American families and businesses.
Even the leading Democrat in the Senate, Harry Reid, has called it a "train wreck."
As the lights are turned up, so is the volume in opposition.
Obamacare is becoming a vehicle for unity in our country. A rallying point for commonsense.
In fact, the growing voice of dissent seems to be rivaling that of the record-setting fan voice volume at the Seahawk game the other day.
This is only a first step---but it is a big step. And a vitally important one. A step that so-called "moderate" Republican leadership opposed until just days ago. And may still secretly oppose.
However, they have been forced to do the right thing by Senators Ted Cruz, Mike Lee and others who were willing to lead and take the hits. And the most violent hits initially were from some of their own colleagues in the Republican leadership.
I wrote a column about this Monday. If you have not read it, please do. It reveals the intense backstabbing that is coming from within the GOP toward these true conservative leaders who seek to defund Obamacare.
Its very revealing what our elected officials are and are not saying about this.
Is there a formula in this that could be applied in Washington State and elsewhere, where the GOP leadership mirrors the "moderate" leanings of Congressional GOP leadership?
Conservative talk show host Mark Levine says the House GOP leadership “did not act on their own but were forced by the remaining conservatives in the House,” adding that the GOP leaders, such as House Speaker John Boehner (R-Ohio), “were forced to take the only responsible and sane action they should have taken from day one.”
He says, ”Republicans in the Senate now need to 'get behind the dozen principled Republican souls, smeared by their own party,'" such as Mike Lee (R-Utah) and Ted Cruz (R-Cruz) who have been pushing for a CR without Obamacare since early spring.
That will be a key. I'm asking you to contact your senator today and ask them firmly, but respectfully, to vote in favor of defunding Obamacare. Regardless of their party affiliation, contact them anyway. It is very important they hear from you now. Contact information is available on our Faith and Freedom web site or you may call the US Senate at 202-224-3121 and be directed to your senators.
Rush Limbaugh said yesterday, “The House is hearing the voices of the American people on this. Many Republicans in the House have heard the voices of the American people which have been loud and constant and have put pressure on the leadership to join this effort.”
Michael A. Needham, CEO of Heritage Action for America, a sister organization of the Heritage Foundation commented, “We applaud the House leadership for putting forward a continuing resolution that will ensure taxpayers are not forced to spend another dime on this failed law.”
He added, “Americans understand Obamacare is unworkable and unaffordable because it is already separating patients from their doctors and employees from their employers.”
As Kentucky began to roll out Obamacare this week it became apparent just how "unaffordable" it really is.
Fox News is reporting this:
Andy and Amy Mangione of Louisville, Ky. and their two boys are just the kind of people who should be helped by ObamaCare. But they recently got a nasty surprise in the mail.
"When I saw the letter when I came home from work," Andy said, describing the large red wording on the envelope from his insurance carrier, "(it said) 'your action required, benefit changes, act now.' Of course I opened it immediately."
It had stunning news. Insurance for the Mangiones and their two boys,which they bought on the individual market, was going to almost triple in 2014 --- from $333 a month to $965.
The insurance carrier made it clear the increase was in order to be compliant with the new health care law.
"This isn't a Cadillac plan, this isn't even a silver plan," Mangione said, referring to higher levels of coverage under ObamaCare.
"This is a high deductible plan where I'm assuming a lot of risk for my health insurance for my family. And nothing has changed, our boys are healthy-- they're young --my wife is healthy. I'm healthy, nothing in our medical history has changed to warrant a tripling of our premiums."
And they call it the "Affordable Care Act."
Brent Bozell, president of Media Research Center, in his comments this week is perhaps the most forceful and poignant.
He said, "Today, Republican leaders in the House have joined the battle and kept their promise on behalf of the American people to get rid of Obamacare by not funding it and I applaud them. How in good conscience any Member of Congress in either party can force the American people to pay for a costly and massive government takeover of health care while big business and Congress are exempted reeks of hypocrisy, cronyism and elitism.”
"But in applauding I do so with caution,” said Bozell. “We have seen this movie before. After pressure from the grassroots, Republicans appear to be ready for a political battle one day, then negotiate away their position the next. On behalf of our 3.5 million supporters, I call on Speaker Boehner, Majority Leader Cantor, Minority Leader McConnell and all Republicans in the House and Senate to stand their ground and let President Obama and Senator Reid know that this position is non-negotiable, that you will fund the government, even things you may disagree with, just not any portion or aspect of Obamacare.”
“If Republicans do not stand their ground and stop funding of Obamacare, it will be a broken promise to those that elected them and they will pay a heavy price."
Is it possible to learn something from this national narrative that can be applied in a state---say Washington State, where the GOP leadership claims to hold to the Party platform, but in fact do not?
Could enough conservatives of like mind rally---really rally, behind elected officials who actually hold our conservative and Christian values that the Party platform reflects?
And if there are not those in elected office who would do so, is it possible to come together enough to elect some of this persuasion with sufficient character to do what they promise once in office?
I am talking more about this on the radio this morning. Join me from anywhere in the world, live at 9:AM PDT and rebroadcast at 7:30 PM PDT. Here's how.
Be Vigilant. Be Discerning. Be Informed. Be Prayerful. Be Active. Be Blessed.